Trunnion bascule-bridge.



A. F. L. VON BABO. TRUNNION BASGULB BRIDGE.

A APPLICATION TI'LID JUNE2G,1908, l yga Patented Aug. 29, 911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

AJP. L. VON BABO. TRUNNION BASGULE BRIDGE. APPLICVI'IONTILED .TNE 26 1908 Y' Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

w M.: *im* I CHIGAGG, ILLINIS.

TEUNNIQN BASCUZE-BRIDGE.

Leonesa.

Application filed. June 26, 1903. Serial No. flOA.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.' I

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER F. L. von BABO, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago', in the count-y of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and r useful Improvements in Trunnion lflasculelridges, of which the following; is a specification.

This invention relates to that class ot' bridges commonly known as trunnion bascule bridges, and having one or more spans or leaves supported by trunnions and provided with rack and pinion or' gear mechanisin tor operating the saine.

The principal object of the invent-ion is` to provide a sim-ple, economical and eghcient trunnion bascule bridge.

. Other objects of the invention are to pro vide a. trunnion bascule bridge having one or more inovable leaves or spans, with main trusses or girders for each movable leaf or span, mechanism for operating the movable leaf or leaves, a stationary support or supports ttor the leaf operating mechanism and the movable leai" or leaves, and for the stationary iioor, track or roadway, and trunnions connected with the movable leaf or leaves for supporting the saine in movable rel-ation to the stationary support or supports, all so constructed and arranged as to furnish ample space for a colinterweight of the required tively inexpensive material such as or stone or the like, thus dispensing with the necessity of limiting the size of the counterweight and using heavier and more expensive material for its constructiongoto enable such longitudinal inside girders, trusses,

concrete,

posts or supports for the inner ends ot' the.

trunnions as have hitherto been used and which limit the size of the counterweight boxes and counter-weights to be dispensed i with; Ato provide means whereby the ent-ire machinery for operating can be placed alongside of the main trusses when desired, and whereby it is possible to readily dispense with operating struts reach* ing behind the anchor piers and requiring an extensive additional tion and operation, and. to avoid the use of unsightly circular racks `above the top chords or beneath the bottoni chords of the trusses, and the difficulties resulting from such construction.

Further objects bridge with a leaf or leaves having main Specicaton of Letters Eatent.

din'iensions, made of compara-4 the leaf or leaves` space for their inoare' to provide a bascule Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

trusses and trunnions, and. a stationary support or supports for the trunnions, so oo nstructed and arranged as to enable toothed or pin racks to be mounted between the top and bottom chords ot the main trusses, and pinions upon stationary supports to extend between the top and bottoni chords of the trusses in engagement with such racks for operatingl the leaf or leaves; and to enable `a transverse giroler or girders to extend through the main trusses ot` each movable leaf or leaves directly beneath the trunnions so as to form a suitable support for theY movable leator leaves and the staticyary door or roadway between the trusses; said ransverse girder or girders being also adapted to form -a support for both the inner and outer ends of the trunnions or for the bearingbloclrs on opposite sides of the main trusses, and said trusses being provided with open panels forming apertures through which the transverse girder or girders extend so to .permit the tree move. ment of the leaf or leaves.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from an, examination ot' the drawings and the following description and claims. p

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claiine ln the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a central seetional elevation of a trunnion bascule bridge constructed in accordance with my improvements and the leaf in lowered position in full lines, and in raised position in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with certain parts broken away and others omitted for the .purpose ot clearness; Fig. 3, a viewv in transverse sectional elevation taken' on irregular line 3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing the transverse girder in side elevation apertures in the side trussesin position to support thetrunnions and thereby the Inovable leaf, and also the inner rational-y meinbers or roadway; also showing the inner toothed sides of the racks and their position relativeto the trunnions and aperture'd side trusses; Fig. Il, an enlarged detail view ot a fragmentof the rack and its supporting plate and connections by means of which it is secured in position .between the top and bottom chords of the side'truss of the trun` nioned leaf; Fig. 5, a longitudinal sectional and extending through theshowing View of the parts shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional elevation of a movable leaf of a trunnion bascule bridge con-- structed in accordance with my improvements, showing one of the apertured side trusses and its rack and pinion, with parts broken away; and Fig. 7, a central longi- `tudinal sectional elevation of a modifiedl form of leaf or trunnioned span having apertured side trusses each provided with an outer rack and stationary pinion, and having atransverse supporting girderin supporting engagement with the trunnion and extending through the aperture or open panel in said truss, with certain parts omitted and a portion of the leaf being broken away,-only one side truss being shown.

In constructing a trunnion bascule bridge in accordance with my improvements I provide one or more movable trunnioned leaves or spans a, each provided'with trunnions b mountedjupon mainside trusses e, said trunthe trunnions and leaf.

nions being mounted ypreferably in stationary journal blocks c'and al on the outside and inside ofthe sidevtlusses respectively. The side or main trusses e each have a top chord f and a bottom chord g, and connecting web members it and i or similar element,

" such as a web'plate," forconnecting the conipression and tension members of the trusses or girders. connected with the hub of each truss and ext'end upward lfrom the hub and trunnion to the top chord, and a webmember Z is connected with the hub and extends downward and toward the cantaliver or channel end of the span to the bottom chord of each main truss in position to provide an open space or aperture o ythe shoreward boundary or margin of which is formedby the web members o and p and the toothed or pin rack q. Said members 0', p, and g are at a sufficient dis,- tance shoreward from the trunnions or pivotal center of the span'to permit the re?.

quired freedom of movement of the span or leaf when a transverse girder-hereinafter described-is in lposition to extend through said aperturesor open panels and between the top and bottom chords of'the trusses and directly beneath and in A rack Q is mounted preferably between the top and bottom chords of each main truss of each movable span or leaf, and pro vided with pins, or teeth u on its concave side and toward the hub n and trunnion J). so

as to form a segmental or curved marginal member or shoreward boundary for the aperture e" or open panel formed between each rack and the web memberslc andi.v

This aperture or open panel in cach main truss is between the trunnions and the shoreward end of the leaf and has a lower portion beneath the trunnion andl extending in Braces or web members lf: areA position to support the direction of the cantaliver -or channel end of the span a sufficient distance to admit a stationary transverse girdery or support directly beneath the trunnions. A pinion r is mounted upon a stationary support` and extends intorthe open panel or aperture of each main truss between the top and bottom chords thereof, in toothed engagement with the rack in position to permit the reciprocation or movements of the rack and top and bottom chords of each truss in the same vertical plane with the corresponding pinion.

A motor s, or similar source of power, is mounted preferably outside of and adjacent to each side or main truss and upon a stationary support. And a train of gears t, or

similar element, is mounted in pperative en.

gagement with each pinion and Aforms a connection between said pinion and the motor or source of power. t

The racks are formed preferably of metal and consist of segments provided with teeth or pins. A very desirable construction'and arrangement is shown in the drawings, consisting of a toothed rack member mounted preferably upon and between plates or web members w which may`form a.` part of the' truss. Bolts y extend through both of said web members w and through outer fianges 2 of the rack. Bolts a connect inner flanges of the rack with the plates fw, and said plates or web members are connected by' means, of

angles 4 and a transverse web'or plate 5 with f the plate p. l

The side trusses are connected by means cftransverse tloor beams 6 on which are laid kstringers 7' extending longitudinally of the s anv of which they formr a part, and ther oor 8 of planks or equivalent elements is t laid on said stringers. f

The' stationary floor or roadway here shown is constructed of a transverse floor beam 9 mounted upon'posts 11, and transverse bracing 10 which is supported preferably upon or bythe transverse girder m,

stringers 12, and a floor of planks 13, or

` and inner ends of the trunnions of the movable leaf. The girder m is preferably -without any.. support between the trusses or trunnions anda-este with its outer, e'ndson 1ongitudinalgirdersl placed outsideof and parallel with the leaf trusses, but it may rest directly upon masonry bodies-.ofthe monaco of masonry' properly reinforced, or of any ordinary or desired form. and material.

This sub-structure is provided with a coun# "terweight pit 2l and forms a support :for the longitudinal beams 16 andthe transverse girder m which is adapted to est either on the longitudinal. beams or directly upon the sub-structure. l l counterafeight bon l-'i is located below the Stationary roadway or door, Where it is mounted on the shoreward end of the mow able leaf between theinain or side trusses already described.. A counteri 'd stone, concrete or other material, is placed in the counter-Weight box, and by reason of the ample space adorded by the construction and arrangement of parts as above described, the counterweight may be made et' material lighter and less expensive than iron wi 'lout any undesirable crowding,r of the machinery orlof any or" the parte and without injuriously affecting the eoieney of the bridge as compared with more complicated and en pensive constructions. il. weight ci? suilicient Size to properly balance the leaf be io cated between the shoreufa end of the leaf and the inner rack or the siiorcward or margin of the open panels in. the main trusses through. which the transverse girder extends.

In Fig. i, anrouter curved circular .rack is shown, mounted upon a main truss of' a trunnioned leaf, but on the outside of the truss or chord. The. t1 ot the lea shown in said tig-ure are provided with open panels or apertin'es 23 through which cy tends the transverse girdcr fm, betr-.reen tl chords of the trusses, in the manner already indicated, said girder iforining a support for 45 the river end of the stationary iloor or roadway, and extending' beneath and supportiunv `the trunnions and thereby' the movable leaf.` The pinion fr is mounted outside of the apertured truss in engagement l the outer rack teeth, and a train of gears 25 is operatively connected with said pinion and with a motor or other suitable source oi? power of any ordinary or desired forni. The leaf havingr a lc irclilnr shaped chord. as shown in r Figa?, and having main trusses provided Wit-h open panels reachingl iieneath the trand nions, and the stationary trfr girder extending through saidl tr f es between. the top and bottoni chords ther' and directl' beneath the trujnnions, permits an arrangement of theleaf-operating machinery and gears Which-in case an exceptionally large lever arm for holding the lea' against the Wind is' desirable-1nay be of advantage, especially' in cases Where 'there is plenty of .features are minimized main trusses or girders,

rooin available for placing the behind the anchor piers.

By using circular racks .f'iihiu the chords of the trusses, as above dwcribed, the entire machinery nuu'zhiner .for oieiatinfr the leaf can be placed alongside of the .main trusses, whereby operating struts reachingl behind the anchor piers, and unsightly circular racks above the top chords or beneath thc bottoni chords of the niain trusses are dispensed with. By the use of a heavy traiisverse' girder or girders extending through the open vpanels or apertures in the niaiu trusses between the top and bottom chords and di rectly beneath the trunnions, and having iournal or bearing blocks mounted on the transverse girder in supporting engagement with the trunnions on the .inside and outside or". each apertured or trunno'ned truss, said girder being supported by beainslor 'masonry on the outside of the trusses, the othciu Wise needed inside girders, trusrui or posts for supporting the inner ends of the trunnions can be dispensed with. Such longitudinel girders and inner supports for the trnnnions as have hitherto been used, limit the size of the eounterweight boxes and counterweights and neces itate the use of relatirely heavy and costly material for couuterweights. All of these objectionable or oi'ercoine by the combinations of elements and the construction scribed and claimed.

lt is lo be understood that changes may be made in the structural details and in the outlines ot' the leaf trusses described herein, or shown in the drawings, without departing from the spirit oit my invention, and l do not wishto be limited to the details, constructio-, or outlines herein shown and de set forth in the claims.

scribed except as claimel. ln a trunnion bascule bridge, the conibinaiion o a movable leaf having main tru, e.; or girders, a circular rack mounted between and located in the saine plane with the chords ot a main truss of said leaf, and iuelosed by said clwrds. and a rack pinion in engngcnient with said raclr and located between the chords of the truss upon which the rack is mounted.

2. The combination of a movable leaf having main trussesA or fgirders, trunnions upon which said leaf is mounted, a'stationary support for said trunnions, a rack mounted within the chords of a main truss and rigidly secured to said truss and 1novable in the same plane therewith, ay pinion in engagement with said rack and located between the chords of said truss, and a stationary support for said pinion.

3. ln a trunnion bascule bridge.I the coinbination of a movableV leaf or span having trunnions upon and arrangement of parts herein def which said leaf is mounted, a 'stationary support for said triintiions, circular racks located between and in-the `same plane with and inclosed by the chords-'Of and rigidly connected with said main trusses, pinions in engagement' with said' racks between the chords of said trusses, stationary supports for said pinionf, and means for operating "the pinions and thereby the racks and the lea'tor span with which the racks are connected.

1. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the combination ol' a movable leaf or span having .mam trusses or girders each provided with an aperture,-a racl secured to each truss land located between and in the same plane tween the chords of the trusses, stationary longitudinal girders upon which said trans-` verse girder rests, and trunnions connected with said movable span and supported by said transverse glrder.

' 6. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the coin-l bination of a movable leaf.or span having a main truss provided withl an open panel forming an aperture vthrough the truss between the chords thereof, a stationary trans-v verse girder extending through said apevture and between the chords of the truss, stationary longitudinal girders upon 'which saidA transverse girder rests, f trunnions mounted upon said transverse girder and connected with` the truss, for supporting the leaf, a circular rack mounted upon and rigidly connected with the truss, a pinion in engagement with said rack, for operating it and thereby the leaf, a'nd means for operating the pinion and thereby the leaf.

7. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the combination of 'a movable leaf or span having main trusses each provided with an open panel forming an aperture between the VAohords'of the truss, a stationary transverse girder extending through said apertures and throughy andbetweenthe chords of theI trusses, a circular rack' mounted between and in the same plane with and inclosed by the chords of and rigidly secured to a main truss, a pinion located between the chordsI of the truss in engagement with said rack, gear mechanism operatively'connected with said pinion, and means for operating said bination of a movable leaf having'main trusses each provided with an 'aperture be- 70 y tween the chords thereof extending beneath the pivotal center of the leaf, trunnions for supporting said leaf, a stationary transverse girder extending through said' apertures and between the'chords of said trusses be- 75 neath said trunnions and the pivotal center of the leaf and connected with the trun-nions for supporting them and thereby the leaf and stationary longitudinal girde'rs upon which said transverse girder rests.

9. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the combination of a movable leaf having main trusses each provided with a ytransverse aperture `between the chords thereof, a -portionof which aperture extends beneath the pivotal center of the leaf and a portion of which extends between the shoreward end and pivotal centerv of the leaf, a stationary vtransverse girder extending through said apertures and between the chords of the main trusses of said movable leaf, stationary longitudinal girders upon lwhich said transverse girder rests, trunnions supported by' said transverse girder and connected with the leaf, a rack secured to a mai-n truss of 91V Y saidleaf, a pinion in engagement with said rack, a stationary support forthe pimon,

'and means for operating the pinion land thereby the rack and the movable leaf.

l0. In a trimnion'bascule bridge, the com- 1C* bination of a movable leaf having main trusses each provided with a transverse aperture between the chords thereof, a portion of which aperture is beneath the pivotal center ofv the `leaf and a ortion of which is betweenthe shorewar 'end and pivotal center of the leaf, ,a stationary transverse girder extending through said apertures and between the chordsof said main trusses of themovable leaf, stationary supports for said transverse girder, trunnions supported by 'said transverse girder and connected with the`leaf, acurved rack securedto a main truss of said leaf between the top and bottom chords thereof and in the same plane with and inclosed bysaidl` chords, said rack having an innertoothed portion, a pinion located in the aperture. in-` t said truss' in toothed engagement with said rack between the chords of the truss, means for supporting said pinion, andgear mechanism4 connected with the pinion for operati' ing it and thereby the rack and the movable leaf.

11. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the con 125 binationl of a movable leaf having main trusses or girders each provided with au open panel forming a transverse aperture between the chords thereof, a stationary transverse V'girdrnextendirg through said la apertures and through and between the chords of said trusses, bearing blocks supported by said girder,.trunnions mounted in said bearing bloclrsand connected with the trusses of the movable leaf for supporting said leaf, uponvwhich said transverse girder rests, and means for operating"said movable leaf. i

i2. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the'combination of a movable leaf having main trusses or girders 'each provided with an open panel forming a transverse aperture between its chords, a stationary transverse girder extending through said apertures and Vthrough andybetween the chords of said trusses, stationary longitudinal girders upon which saidy transverse girder rests, trunnions supported by said transverse girder and connected with the leaf for supporting the leaf in movable relation'tg the girder, transverse frame members 'connecting' the main trusses of the movable leaf, a platform supported by said transverse frame members, and a stationary floor located between the main trusses of the movable leaf and having one end .supported by said transverse girder.

13, In a trunnlon bascule bridge, the combination of a-movable leaf having main trusses or girders eaeh'provided with an open panel forming a transverse aperture through the truss between the chords thereof, circular tracks rigidly connected with the truss members and forming one boundary A' line cf said apertures, rack pinions mounted upon stationary said apertures between the top and bottom chords of the trusses and in engagement with said raclrs, stationary motors, gears connecting said motors with said rack pinions, and trunnions connected with the'leaf and supported by `said 'cross girder.

14, In af trunnion bascule bridge, the combination of a movable leaf or span having main side trusses each provided with an open panel forming a transverse aperture through the truss between the chords thereof, trunnions in supporting connection with :said leaf, transverse beams connecting the side trusses of the movable leaf, a platform supported by said transverse members and forming a track or roadway for vehicles, a stationary roadway located between the side trussesof the leaf, a transverse girder ex- .tending through the apertures in the side trusses and forming a support for the stationary roadway and the trunnions and movable leaf and stationary longitudinal girders upon which said transverse girder rests.

15. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the combination of a movable leaf provided with main trusses each having a top and bottom chord and having an aperture between said l 1,oo1,soo

stationary. longitudinal girders" supports and lextending -into top and bottom chords of a main truss 'of said movable leaf, a pinion in engagement with said rack and extending between the chords of the truss in which the rack is mounted, trunnons insupporting engage ment with said leaf, means fo' supporting said trunnions and thereby the leaf, means for .supporting said pinion, gear mechanism for operating the pinion, and a counterweight mounted on the leaf between the shoreward end thereof and the rack, for balancing the leaf.

16. In a trunnion bascule bridge, the combination of a movable leaf provided with main trusses each ha'ving a top and bottom chord and having an aperture between said chords, for supporting it, a stationary support for said trunnions, transverse beams connecting the main' trusses of the leaf, a raelr rigidly secured to a main truss of said movable leaf and-extending upward anddownward between the chords of said truss and between the shoreward leaf, a web member mounted between the raclr and the shoreward endv of the truss and rigidly connected with 'the raolr, a pinion in engagement with said raclr and extending between the chords of the truss in which the racl is mounted, means for operating saidv pinion and thereby the rack and movable leaf, and a counterwmght mounted on the lmovable leaf between saidI rack 'and the shorewerd end of the leaf.

i7. vln a trunnion bascule bridge, the conn bination of a movable leaf having main trusses or girders each provided with an open panel forming an aperture therethrough, a transverse girder extending throughthe apertures and between the top and bottom chords of saidmain trusses, stationary supports extending longitudinally of the leaf on the outside of the main trusses and in supporting engagement with said transverse girder, and a plurality of tron-- nions supported by said transverse girder and in supporting engagement with said mainA trusses.

i8. In a trunnion bascule bridge,the combination of a movable leaf having main trusses or girders each provided with an open enel forming a transverse aperture ther-ct irough between the chords thereof, a transverse girder extending through a plu ralityf of said trusses between the top and bottom chords thereof, stationary longitudinal girders upon which said transverse girder rests, bearing blocks mounted on said transverse girder on opposite sides of each of said main trusses, and a plurality of truny nions mounted in said bearing blocks in supporting engagement wlth the mam trusses.

1.9. In a truunlon' bascule bridge, the courchords, a toothed rack mounted between and binat-ion of a movable leaf having main in the same plane with and inclosed by the,

trusses or girders each provided with an end and pivotal center of the laol open panel forming an aperture therethrough, .a transverse girder extending through the apertures and between the top and bottom chords of a Vplurality of said main trusses, stationary longitudinal grders upon which said transverse girder rests, trunnions in supporting engagement with a pluralityA of said trusses, 'bearing blocks and means for oreratn mounted on said transverse girder 'n opposite sides of each of the` main trusses` and in 10 supporting engagement with the trunnons,

the leaf.

ALEXA ER L. voN BABO.

Vitn'esses:

HARVEY IRWIN CROMER,

IRENE 'GoLDsarrrH 

